Policies and Procedures
New Safeguarding Children Referral Form
We are pleased to launch the new Safeguarding Children Referral Form and associated guidance, links to both are shown below. The official 'Go live' date is the 1st November 2010 and agencies and organisations are strongly advised that as from this date any supplies of previous forms should be destroyed or deleted. The new form can actually be used with immediate effect.
Pan Greater Manchester Missing from Home & Care Protocol
The Greater Manchester Safeguarding Partnership have developed a standardised approach to deal with missing and absent people of all ages across Greater Manchester. Part A of the protocol covers children and young people missing from home and care.
Download guidance here
Safeguarding Policy Guidance
MSCB has produced guidance for agencies to use when putting together their own Safeguarding Policy.
Download guidance here
Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures
The Manchester Safeguarding Children Board (MSCB) Safeguarding Children Procedures were revised in 2010, updating the version published in 2007.
The procedures provide a framework within which all agencies and professionals can work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people across Manchester.
Safeguarding Unborn Babies and Vulnerable Women During Pregnancy – Joint Pathway
Safeguarding Unborn Babies and Vulnerable Women During Pregnancy – Joint Pathway
This guidance has been jointly written by Health and Children's Services; it highlights the important role that midwives have in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
Minimum Standards for E-Safety Version 2
The Minimum Standards for E-Safety Document offers clear guidance and support for agencies in developing appropriate practice and policies for safeguarding children when using information and communication technology. The original document (October 2009) has now been updated and the current version (February 2011) is available here for download.
Safeguarding Children Procedures
Safeguarding Children Procedures
Greater Manchester Safeguarding Procedures
Nine Local Safeguarding Boards from the Greater Manchester Safeguarding Partnership, including Manchester, have worked with a company called Tri.X to develop combined safeguarding procedures which are easily accessible online. The procedures were formally launched on 28 February 2013.
Click on the link below to access the procedures.
http://greatermanchesterscb.proceduresonline.com/index.htmNew MSCB Practice Guidance for the Management of Self-Harm by Children & Young People
This MSCB practice guidance for the management of self-harm by children and young people is designed to promote a Multi-Agency response to issues of self-harm in children and young people, with advice about how to facilitate support and intervention according to the level of need and associated risk
Safeguarding Disabled Children
This short guide highlights the safeguarding issues particular to disabled children and should be used as a supplement to the MSCB Core Safeguarding Procedures
Safeguarding Trafficked and Migrant Children
Migrant Children
This guidance on safeguarding migrant children includes unaccompanied asylum seekers and should be used together with the Toolkit for Safeguarding Trafficked & Migrant Children
Trafficked Children
This comprehensive guidance covers all aspects of safeguarding trafficked children including why children are trafficked and the impact on children's welfare. It should be used together with the Toolkit for Safeguarding Trafficked & Migrant Children
Trafficked & Migrant Children Toolkit
This multi-agency toolkit provides practical guidance and useful contacts for all agencies dealing with trafficked and migrant children.
Parental Mental Health and Safeguarding Children Guidance and Protocol
The objective of the Parental Mental Health and Safeguarding Children Guidance and Protocol is to provide a framework in which to meet the needs of children whose parent/carers have mental health problems.
MSCB / MSAB Domestic Abuse Protocol
Manchester Safeguarding Children Board have worked together with Manchester Safeguarding Adults Board to develop a joint Domestic Abuse protocol which was finalised in March 2013.
Download the joint MSAB / MSCB Domestic Abuse protocol here
Download the multi-agency Domestic Abuse Assessment and Referral form here
Protocol for access to accommodation for young people aged 16 &17
This protocol provides guidance for Children's Services, Housing and other partner agencies to provide a consistent and co-ordinated response to 16 & 17 year old young people who present as homeless and in need of accommodation and accommodation support services.
Pan Greater Manchester Procedure for Working with Sexually Active <18
Pan Greater Manchester Procedure for Working with Sexually Active Young People under 18
This procedure has been devised with the understanding that most young people under the age of 18 will have a healthy interest in sex and sexual relationships and to assist those working with young people to identify where those relationships may be abusive and the young people may need the provision of protection and additional services.
GM SUDC Procedure
The GM Procedures for the Management Of Sudden Unexpected Death In Childhood (Rapid Response).
This procedure provides direction for professionals from agencies involved when a child (0-18 years) dies suddenly and unexpectedly.
Together with principles to follow and a definition, the procedure contains general advice and guidance for dealing with a sudden unexpected death and for inter-agency working. Each agency has its own specific guidelines that will complement this procedure.
MSCB Safeguarding Children and Young People Subjected to Fabricated or Induced Illness Protocol
MSCB Safeguarding Children and Young People Subjected to Fabricated or Induced Illness Protocol.
The fabrication of illness in children is a relatively rare form of abuse. Where concerns exist it requires professionals from all agencies to work together at an early stage so that all information available can be evaluated and an understanding of the needs of the child assessed.
MSCB / MSAB Safeguarding and Gangs Protocol
Manchester Safeguarding Children Board have worked together with Manchester Safeguarding Adults Board to develop a joint Safeguarding & Gangs Protocol. The protocol was finalised March 2013.
Download the protocol here
Additional resources:
Dual Process Guidance and Procedures
Download the Dual Process Guidance and Procedure document hereMSCB Safeguarding Children affected by Parental Substance Misuse Protocol
MSCB Safeguarding Children affected by Parental Substance Misuse Protocol
This practice guidance is pivotal to the safeguarding of children and families in Manchester. It aims to assist all agencies working with children, adults who are parents/carers or pregnant women and their partners in identifying situations where action is needed to safeguard a child or promote their welfare as a result of their parents' alcohol and drug use.
Additional practice guidance is available here
MSCB Procedures for Managing Allegations against People who work with Children
MSCB Procedures for Managing Allegations against People who work with Children
These procedures must be followed by all organisations providing services for children and staff or volunteers who work with or care for children in Manchester. Any organisations that commission services for children must ensure that their arrangements with those services are consistent with the requirements in this procedure.
Additional resources:
MSCB Procedures for Photographing Children and Young People
MSCB Procedures for Photographing Children and Young People
The majority of occasions when people take photographs of children and young people are valid and do not provide any cause for concern.
Unfortunately there are occasions when this is not the case and these are some of the risks associated with photographing children:
- The collection and passing on of images which may be misused
- The identification of individual children to facilitate abuse
- The identification of children in vulnerable circumstances
MSCB Supervision of Children and Young People in Hospital Protocol
MSCB Supervision of Children and Young People in Hospital Protocol
This protocol is intended to provide guidance to staff from a number of agencies and assist them to increase awareness of the need for effective planning when it is identified that an adult may present a risk to a hospitalised child or other children who may be cared for within the vicinity.
Continuum of Need and Common Assessment Framework Multi-agency Guidance
Continuum of Need and Common Assessment Framework Multi-agency Guidance
This multi-agency Guidance is important for the safeguarding of children, young people and families in Manchester, or those using services in the area. It should be read and implemented, where necessary, by all practitioners and managers working with, or in contact with, children or young people.
It should be used in all new contacts with children and young people and if you believe that a child or a young person is at immediate risk, this should be reported without delay to the police service as a 999 emergency and a contact be made to the Manchester Children’s Service Contact Centre. The telephone number is 0161 234 5001. The fax number is 0161 255 8266. The telephone referral should be followed up with a Multi-agency Referral form within 48 hours.
This Guidance must be read alongside MSCB Safeguarding Procedures.
Government Issued Policies and Guidance
Department of Health
Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Policies
- Safeguarding Children from Witchcraft or Other Spiritual Beliefs
- Safeguarding Children Who May Have Been Trafficked
- Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation
Forced marriage is a marriage conducted without the valid consent of both parties, where some element of duress is a factor. This is different from an arranged marriage, which is a respected tradition in many cultures.